Album Review :: Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark?

Album

Royal Blood

How Did We Get So Dark?

June 16 2017 (Warner Bros)

7.5/10

Words: Alison Mack

Royal Blood follow up their debut album with a record that could have been called 'How Did We Get So Big?' The Brighton duo of vocalist/bassist Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher became the biggest breaking British rock band in 2014, hitting #1 in the UK, going Top 20 in twelve countries, and selling over a million copies; they have since made inroads in cracking America as well as home territory.

It is perhaps surprising, therefore, that this second release is pretty light on length, coming in at just under 35 minutes despite a healthy  ten tracks. Written in instrumental form during sessions in Brighton, Hollywood, Los Angeles and Nashville, and then recorded last November with producer Jolyon Thomas in Brussels before being completed in London with their debut album’s co-producer Tom Dalgety.

It must be said there is not much of a change from their high-powered entrance LP of big choruses and soaring riffs (‘Hook, Line & Sinker’). The two-piece range from the cowbell featured ‘I Only Lie When I Love You’ to the festival stage number ‘Look Like You Know’, while previously released ‘Where Are You Now?’ has been reworked to become their big anthem of pulsing energy. Lead single ‘Lights Out’ goes all out on the bass and drums set up, with Thatcher providing the gigantic beats, while Kerr supplies falsetto aside a bass onslaught.

Royal Blood's style of melodic, yet loud, rock may not be to everyone's taste, but they have shown they're in it for the long run.